West Virginia Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 1 in 4 adults in West Virginia has a diagnosable mental illness, which could include anxiety, depression, addiction, bipolar disorder, OCD and more. This ranks the state at No. 3 nationally, with 23.8% of all adults having a mental illness, compared to just 19% of all Americans.
But there is a bit of good news. That’s because while West Virginia has higher-than-average rates of mental illness, residents of the state also embrace getting help at a higher-than-average rate. In fact, while only about 14.9% of American adults received mental health services in the most recent year for which data is available, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in West Virginia, that number was closer to 19%.
It takes a vast network of trained professionals to provide helpful counseling and therapy services to those struggling with mental health and behavioral disorders. Key in that network are clinical psychologists, who provide many crucial mental health services. Let’s take a look at what these professionals can expect to earn in West Virginia and how the state compares to the rest of the U.S.
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in West Virginia?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in West Virginia?
- Which West Virginia Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in West Virginia?
The average clinical psychologist salary in West Virginia is $75,810, compared with $106,600 nationally.
Average annual clinical psychologist wage, Southern states
| Maryland | $116,560 |
| Tennessee | $109,670 |
| Virginia | $108,130 |
| Arkansas | $106,330 |
| Kentucky | $105,140 |
| Alabama | $92,470 |
| North Carolina | $91,390 |
| Florida | $89,450 |
| Oklahoma | $89,380 |
| Georgia | $85,800 |
| Texas | $82,420 |
| West Virginia | $75,810 |
| South Carolina | $64,990 |
Taking into account all jobs in the state, salaries for clinical psychologists begin to look more attractive. That’s because the average worker in the state makes $52,200 per year.
Median – Top 10% West Virginia wage for clinical psychologists
| Average | $75,810 |
| Median | $65,350 |
| 75th percentile | $102,840 |
| Top 10th percentile | $118,250 |
When it comes to the projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist jobs in West Virginia, the state is in the top-half of the nation with an anticipated rate of 12.2%.
States by projected long-term growth rate for clinical psychologist job openings, Southern states
| Florida | 26.1% |
| Tennessee | 23.4% |
| South Carolina | 22.8% |
| Texas | 19.6% |
| North Carolina | 18.9% |
| Mississippi | 16.0% |
| Oklahoma | 14.6% |
| Arkansas | 13.2% |
| Maryland | 12.6% |
| West Virginia | 12.2% |
| Virginia | 11.6% |
| Alabama | 11.4% |
| Kentucky | 11.1% |
| Louisiana | 10.8% |
| Georgia | 10.5% |
| Delaware | 8.3% |
| District of Columbia | 7.1% |
Note: Long-term 2022-2032
Which West Virginia Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
Several cities in West Virginia have average salaries that are considerably higher than the state’s average. Charleston leads the way, while salaries in Beckley are the lowest.
West Virginia cities by average annual clinical psychologist wage
| Charleston | $87,250 |
| Morgantown | $76,200 |
| Wheeling | $75,540 |
| Parkersburg | $73,820 |
| Huntington | $72,810 |
| Beckley | $70,980 |
West Virginia’s strength is its amazingly high concentration of clinical psychologist jobs per capita, a category in which it ranks towards the top in the nation. Of the nearly 300 cities and rural areas for which statistics are tracked, all six cities in West Virginia for which data is available rank in the top 30.
Nationwide cities sorted by clinical psychologists per 1,000 jobs, top 30
| Rochester, MN | 1.973 |
| Pocatello, ID | 1.549 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 1.540 |
| New Bedford, MA | 1.350 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 1.272 |
| Bloomsburg, PA | 1.195 |
| Parkersburg, WV | 1.176 |
| Springfield, MA | 1.142 |
| Madera, CA | 1.141 |
| Elmira, NY | 1.137 |
| Leominster, MA | 1.110 |
| Charleston, WV | 1.088 |
| Flint, MI | 1.080 |
| Vallejo, CA | 1.056 |
| Billings, MT | 1.055 |
| Beckley, WV | 1.038 |
| Hanford, CA | 1.028 |
| Shreveport, LA | 1.024 |
| Huntington, WV | 1.021 |
| Pueblo, CO | 1.016 |
| San Diego, CA | 0.995 |
| Bay City, MI | 0.974 |
| Columbia, SC | 0.967 |
| Wilmington, NC | 0.963 |
| Chicago, IL | 0.945 |
| Wheeling, WV | 0.945 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 0.911 |
| Morgantown, WV | 0.907 |
| Providence, RI | 0.903 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 0.896 |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2025.
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in West Virginia?
A rewarding job in clinical psychology doesn’t just take one form across the board. That’s because jobs include patient-facing or administrative, jobs can be found across every conceivable industry. Plus, for professionals with a passion for a specific population group, there are probably plenty of jobs catering to that group.
Here’s a look at some of the West Virginia organizations that were seeking to hire clinical psychologists in the summer of 2020:
- The Pain Center
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- West Virginia University
- US Department of Justice
- Prairie Band Health Services
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- United Summit Center
- University Health Associates
- Aspire Psychological Services
- West Liberty University
- Logan Mingo Area Mental Health
- Highland-Clarksburg Hospital
- Hope for Tomorrow
- Southwestern Regional Day Report Center
- Community Care of West Virginia
- Seneca Health Services
- Pendleton Community Care
- Youth Advocate Programs
- The IMA Group
- The Counseling Connection
Conclusion
While salaries for clinical psychologists in West Virginia may be at the bottom of the list compared to other states, the truth is that West Virginia is among the most in-need states when it comes to demand for professional mental health services providers. For clinical psychologists, with their demanding and specialized training, the chance to make a huge impact on the emotional well-being of others may be well worth a less-than-generous salary package.
SEE ALSO: Best West Virginia Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in West Virginia was gathered from listings posted in summer 2020 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017-2018 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-2018-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2020). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Short Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/ShortTerm
- Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State. (2020). Retrieved from https://psydprograms.org/average-clinical-psychologist-salary-by-state/